For the past several weeks, SteelOrbis sources have indicated that US domestic plate prices have been hovering in the range of $30-$31 cwt. ($661-$683/mt or $600-$620/nt), ex-mill. And while some mills have been negotiating deals with customers, at price points slightly below that range, SteelOrbis has confirmed that overall, “the mills are looking to hold their line on prices.”
“As far as the mills are concerned, everyone knows that the market is a mess right now. Plate pricing is terrible, and the sales reps are of the mindset that lowering their prices isn’t somehow going to create demand,” a source said. “There’s just no point to it, and as far as we’re being told, prices are going to stay where they are.”